Has a pope ever been assassinated?

Pope John VIII
John VIII was the first pope to be assassinated during a particularly turbulent century that would see multiple claimants to the papacy and a succession of violent papal deaths.
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What popes have been murdered?

Murdered popes
  • John VIII (872–882), allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death.
  • Stephen VI (896–897), strangled.
  • Leo V (903), allegedly strangled.
  • John X (914–928), allegedly smothered with pillow.
  • John XII (955–964), allegedly murdered by the jealous husband of the woman with whom he was in bed.
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What happens if the pope is murdered?

The death of a pope puts into motion a formal, age-old process that includes certifying his death, arranging for the body to lie in state, organizing a funeral and preparing for the election of a successor. The pope's chief of staff, or camerlengo, is in charge of all arrangements.
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Why do they destroy the pope's ring?

The ring "is a sign of authority of a particular pope and so that's why it's so important that the ring itself is destroyed once a papacy ends, so that no one can assert that authority except within whom it has been invested," Dennis told CBC News.
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Is there smoke when the pope dies?

Black smoke means there has not been a two-thirds majority, and another vote will go ahead. White smoke and a new Pope has been elected.
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On this day: Pope John Paul II shot outside the Vatican



Was there a 12 year old pope?

Benedict IX was pope on 3 separate occasions during his lifetime, with the first being when he was just 12 years old. He grew to be a wicked boy and ran from the position to hide within the city when political opponents tried to murder him.
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Which pope had a child with his daughter?

And the old man licking his lips at the antics of the call-girls was none other than the Pope himself, Alexander VI, formerly known as Rodrigo Borgia. It is said that his daughter Lucrezia and his son Cesare were also there, enjoying the spectacle.
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Was there a woman pope?

Pope Joan, legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned, under the title of John VIII, for slightly more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, between the pontificates of St. Leo IV (847–855) and Benedict III (855–858).
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Who was the youngest pope ever?

Pope Benedict IX (Latin: Benedictus IX; c. 1012 – c. 1056), born Theophylactus of Tusculum in Rome, was Bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States on three occasions between October 1032 and July 1048. Aged approximately 20 at his first election, he is one of the youngest popes in history.
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Who poisoned the pope?

Raimondi says that he went to Italy in 1978 with a team of hit men who murdered John Paul I, according to the New York Post. They allegedly poisoned him with cyanide just 33 days into the pontiff's reign, according to Raimondi's new book, When the Bullet Hits the Bone.
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Why was the first pope crucified upside down?

His execution was ordered by the Roman Emperor Nero, who blamed the city's Christians for a terrible fire that had ravaged Rome. Peter requested to be crucified upside down, as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ.
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Which pope fell off a mule?

During the march, Urban fell from his mule at Narni and had to recover in early October in Rome, where he was able to oust the communal rule of the banderesi and restore the papal authority.
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How much is the pope paid?

How much does one get paid for being pope? Nothing. In 2001, the Vatican confirmed that the pope "does not and has never received a salary". As a Jesuit, Pope Francis had already taken a vow of poverty.
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How much is the pope's ring worth?

How much is the pope's ring worth? Pope's ring is worth over $800,000 dollars.
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What is the age limit to be a pope?

There's no official age requirement for the post. The youngest pope to be elected in Vatican history is Pope John XII, who is believed to have been 18-years-old when he ascended to the papacy in 955.
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Who was the 1st pope?

Peter, traditionally considered the first pope.
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Who is the shortest serving pope?

Pope Urban VII (Latin: Urbanus VII; Italian: Urbano VII; 4 August 1521 – 27 September 1590), born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was head of the Catholic Church, and ruler of the Papal States from 15 to 27 September 1590. His thirteen-day papacy was the shortest in history.
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What happens to a popes body?

According to experts, the pope's body is likely to be embalmed and then exposed for the veneration of the faithful – most likely in St. Peter's Basilica. Tradition calls for nine days of mourning during which there is a papal interregnum, or interval during which the Catholic Church is without a spiritual leader.
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Why is the pope buried in three coffins?

A pope must be buried between the 4th and 6th day after his death. During much ceremony, John Paul's body was placed in three consecutive coffins, as is tradition. The first of the three coffins is made from cypress, signifying that the pope is an ordinary man no different from any other.
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What illness does the Pope have?

On Sunday evening, Pope Francis underwent surgery for a colon condition called “symptomatic stenotic diverticulitis.” The elective surgery, performed at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, lasted about three hours, according to a statement by the press office of the Holy See.
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